Trade

Global beef trade is poised for growth over the next five years, driven by increasing demand from Asia and export expansions by South American countries, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.

Confidence in Australia’s farming sector has lifted, as the nation’s farmers hang their hopes on continuing strong commodity prices – particularly in livestock sectors – and better seasonal conditions in a number of regions, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has found.

Australia is forecast to harvest a larger winter grain crop this year, with Rabobank estimating total volumes to reach 62.8 million tonnes in its just-released annual 2025/26 Australian Winter Crop Forecast.

Whether the risks posed by imports from Australia's trading partners are being sufficiently assessed and addressed, whether we really need to or should import certain products at all, and whether Australia is becoming complacent, resigned, or courting disaster for political Brownie points - such questions are being asked more often. ... This last week, Australia's biosecurity around beef and banana imports was called into question by David Littleproud, Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister. ARR.News sought a response from Julie Collins, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ...

On a cotton farm near Emerald in central Queensland, something unusual is taking root. Among the cotton, mung beans and peanuts that typically fill the rotation, a small but mighty crop is showing its potential to change the face of Australian agriculture: sesame.

The Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on 1 October. CEPA is Australia’s first free trade agreement in the Middle East and first trade agreement with a dedicated chapter covering First Nations trade.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering new opportunities for Australia’s blueberry producers with a new agreement securing market access to export the fruit to Vietnam, with trade expected to be worth approximately $22 million over 5 years. The agreement, which came into effect this week, is another major win for Australian producers and will also create access to Vietnamese pomelos for Australian consumers.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor has no plan or explanation why farmers applying for Labor’s assistance grant will be forced to find up to $75,000 of their own money as a co-contribution before Christmas, in order to obtain financial help.

...New Agtrends figures show Queensland primary industries is forecast to achieve a record GVP worth $26.79 billion for 2024-2025, a rise of 18 per cent for the sector since 2023-2024. The significant increase has been delivered through strong performance across key commodities...

Don Fuller. Has the NT Government been taken to the cleaners by the gas industry or is the government simply incompetent? It seems clear that it has bought far too much gas at far too high a price.

...The $30 million Farm Business Transition Program will provide grants of up to $75,000 per applicant to help eligible sheep producers prepare for the phase out, with funding to support new business plans or the adoption of alternative farming practices. The program will be delivered over two rounds, with $20 million available in round one opening next week, and $10 million to be made available in 2026.

Australia’s sheep industry is at a turning point - and producers are being asked to help write the next chapter. Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) has launched the development of The Future Flock, a national strategy designed to guide the sheepmeat and wool sector through change and set a profitable, resilient direction for decades to come. ARR.News asked some questions of SPA CEO Bonnie Skinner about The Future Flock and national strategy.

Tasmania has emerged as a "standout success story" in Australian agriculture, powered by a vibrant and varied farming sector which has experienced sustained and widespread growth in recent decades, according to a new report. In the report, Gearing up for mature growth in Tasmanian agriculture, agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank says agriculture remains the cornerstone of Tasmania’s economy...

TasFarmers has slammed Woolworths’ recent decision to import frozen potatoes from India, warning it undermines Australian farmers and risks consumer trust. TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said the move leaves local growers furious after years of heavy investment in equipment, irrigation and infrastructure.

NSW Farmers has slammed a review into banana imports that could devastate the industry and put the nation’s biosecurity at risk. This week the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced a review of quarantine arrangements for bananas imported from the Philippines into Australia.

Australians are renowned for their love of coffee. From the bustling laneways of Melbourne to beachside cafés in Byron Bay, the daily ritual of the flat white or long black has become woven into national culture. Collectively, Australians consume around six billion cups of coffee each year.

According to Avocados Australia’s latest “Facts at a Glance Report”, Australian avocado growers produced 131,385 tonnes of avocados for FY2024/25, valued at AUD$794 million* (Gross value of production (GVP)). Volume was slightly lower, but GVP was 22.34 per cent higher when compared to the previous period.

Agriculture investment is evolving globally. Once focused on farmland, today’s investors are targeting entire supply chains. Rising costs and flat land prices are pressuring returns, and the focus is shifting to yield, resilience and ESG-linked income.

Australian milk production is set to fall again in the current season, as ongoing feed shortages and a smaller milking herd in drought-affected areas continue to impact, Rabobank says in newly-released research. This comes as global milk supply surges, with production increasing across other key dairy-exporting regions across the world.

Cattle prices have risen solidly across all categories, supported by recent rainfall across southern Australia and strong demand from northern lot feeders. ANZ’s latest Agri InFocus report highlights the Female Slaughter Rate (FSR) as a key indicator of destocking activity over the past year, and the resulting surge in restocker demand.

Australia’s wine industry is showing signs of recovery after one of its most challenging decades – but the rebound remains fragile and uneven. According to ANZ’s latest Agri InFocus report, wine exports rose 13 percent in value to $2.48 billion in the year to June 2025, driven largely by renewed trade with mainland China following the reopening of that market.